A familiar face in Florida politics is eyeing a potential return to the spotlight with a possible bid for governor in 2026. Former Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is once again teasing a political comeback—this time with his eyes on the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee. The Republican who briefly dipped his toes into the 2024 presidential race before endorsing President Trump now says he’s considering a run for governor of Florida in 2026.
During an Axios-hosted event Thursday ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Miami—a race Suarez proudly helped bring to the city—the former mayor was asked directly if he planned to run for governor to succeed Ron DeSantis. Suarez didn’t exactly shut it down.
“I’m not saying I’m completely not considering it. I certainly have considered it,” he said.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez hasn't ruled out run for governor https://t.co/KAC9RCdc9W
— Axios (@axios) May 2, 2025
Translation? He’s waiting to see if he can make a move without getting steamrolled by Trump’s political machine. And that might be a tough sell, because Trump has already endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) to be Florida’s next governor. In GOP politics today, that’s more than a nod—it’s a coronation.
Suarez acknowledged as much: “The president has weighed in on the governor’s race in a way that makes it hard” for other Republicans. No kidding.
Still, Suarez tried to make the case for his candidacy, pointing to his track record on public safety, tax policy, and attracting major business opportunities to Miami. He called the city’s successful bid to host a Formula 1 race one of his proudest achievements—a flashy feather in his cap, sure, but not exactly the bread-and-butter that Florida’s conservative base is focused on right now.
The elephant in the room, of course, is that Suarez’s brief 2024 presidential campaign barely made a ripple. He entered the race with tech-world buzz and Miami swagger, but was quickly outpaced by stronger voices in the GOP field. Still, he stuck around long enough to endorse Trump—likely hoping to stay in good standing for future opportunities.
Now, with DeSantis term-limited and Florida’s political spotlight wide open, Suarez sees a window. But that window is narrowing quickly with Byron Donalds surging in popularity, Trump’s blessing behind him, and strong support from grassroots conservatives.
Suarez may yet find a role in Florida’s future, but if he thinks he’s going to outmaneuver a Trump-backed Byron Donalds in today’s Republican Party, he might need more than an F1 trophy and a tax-cutting résumé.
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